Cleaning method and apparatus



Nov. 23, 1937. e. w. ALLEN ET AL CLEANING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ifivenior L m NH w m m aaa P 0E S Nov. 23, 1937.

e. w. ALLEN ET AL 2,100,285 CLEANING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4; 22' Z6 za 17 SEIIARIRTOR GEOEGE W. A JOSEPH \S EQRWEZIL b W \7 V -wk @Ziorwey Patented Nov. 23, 1937 usrrso stares CLEANING METHOD AND APPARATUS George W. Allen, Hyde Park, Boston, and Joseph S. Farwell, Brookline, Mass, assignors to B. F. Stnrtevant Company, line, Hyde Park, Boston,

Mass.

Applioationioctober 2c, 1934, Serial No. 750,178

4 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning method and apparatus and relates more particularly to the cleaning of the bodies of hats during hat manufacturing operations.

At a certain stage in the manufacture of hats, it is customary to dye the hats to obtain the color desired in the finished product. In the dyeing operations generally used, dye and other dust remain in the body of the hats, and it is desirable that this dust be removed. It has been customary in the past to use compressed air to blow the dust from the hats, but it was found that this forced a great deal of the dust back into the hats.

According to this invention, dust is removed from hats by suction. In one embodiment of the invention, a hat form is provided with a suction nozzle which conforms to the outlines of the crown and brim of a hat. Suction is applied to the nozzle and the hat to be cleaned is rotated rapidly over the form by an operator, the suction serving to remove all the dust from the body of the hat on one side, following which the hat is turned inside-out and again rotated upon the form to remove the dust from the other side of the body of the hat.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hat form is provided with a nozzle which'follows the outline of the brim and crown of the hat, and which is adapted, as in the above described embodiment, to be placed inside the hat to be cleaned, and another nozzle shaped to conform to the outer crown and brim of the hat is placed, during the cleaning operation, adjacent the upper portion of the hat, and the suction applied to both sides of the hat simultaneously, this resulting in both sides of the hat being simultaneously cleaned.

In both embodiments of the invention, a foot pedal or other control is manipulated by the operator to apply suction to the hat only when it is placed in proper position upon the cleaning apparatus.

In the second described embodiment of the invention, the foot pedal, or other control, may be arranged to. separate the upper and lower nozzles to permit the entry and withdrawal of the hats and the application of suction when the hat and nozzles are in proper positions for cleaning.

An object of the invention is to remove dust from hats.

Another object of the invention is to combine an air suction nozzle with a hat form.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air'sucti'on nozzle to conform to the outline 01 a hat. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an air suction nozzle to conform with the interior of a hat and an associated suction nozzle to conform with the exterior of the hat.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side View, with the hat in section, showing a hat placed upon a hat form provided with the suction apparatus according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking downwardly upon the form and nozzle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating hat cleaning apparatus employing upper and lower suction nozzles together with controls. outlines indicate the upper nozzle in contact with the upper surface of the hat.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, with upper nozzle as indicated by the dash-dot lines, and

Fig. 6 is a view of a compressor and separator connected to the hat cleaning apparatus to provide the necessary suction and extract the dust.

The form 8 is shaped to conform to a crown and brim of the hat 9, the arrangement being that the hat 9 is to be rotated a complete revolution around the form. The form is provided with the suction nozzle 10 on its inner side, as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The nozzle it has a narrow slit 1 l in its upper portion, which contacts with the surface of the hat. This slit 1 l opens into the enlarged channel I2, which in turn connects with the suction pipe 13.

The valve M, in the air line 15, controls the application of suction to the nozzle 10. The lever l6 of the valve is connected to the spring [1, which in turn is supported from the work-bench iii, the spring acting to keep the valve l4 closed. The lever I6 is also connected by the wire 19 to the foot pedal 20.

In operation, the operator places the hat 9 upon the form 8 and nozzle I0, and then presses the foot pedal 20, which causes the valve i l to open and suction to be applied to the nozzle. The hat is then rotated rapidly around the form, this resulting in the complete contact of all portions of the inside of the hat with the nozzle H3 and the removal of dust by suction from the hat. The hat then may be turned inside-out, to be again placed upon the form 8 and nozzle ill, for the cleaning of its other side, or both sides of the hat may be simultaneously cleaned upon its rotation, by the apparatus illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5, the arrangement and operation of which will now be explained.

The apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5 comprises a form 8a and nozzle Illa. The form 8a and nozzle Illa and suction pipe l3a correspond to the form 8, nozzle [0 and pipe 13, respectively, of Fig. 1.

The dashdot In addition, there is provided the upper nozzle 2|, which is attached to the block 22, which in turn is pivoted at 23 and is attached at 24 to the lever 25. The lever 25 is connected at its lower end to the foot pedal 20a and to the lever Ilia of the suction control valve Ma. The spring l'la is connected to the work-bench I 8a and to the lever 25, and serves to maintain the lever in its uppermost position with foot pedal 20a up, the nozzle 2| separated, as shown by Fig. 4, from the lower nozzle Illa, and the hat contained thereon, and the valve Ma closed. Suction is applied to the upper nozzle 2| through the supply pipes 26 and l3a. I

The upper portion of the lever is provided with plunger 28, which moves in a central guiding groove in the lower portion of the lever. The upper portion of the lever is also provided with the shelf 34, which is tapped to receive the threaded screw 35. The pipe coupling 36 is provided with an extension 31, which limits the lower movement of the lever 25 through its contact, as the levermoves downwardly, with the lower end of the screw 35. Thus, when the foot pedal 20a is depressed, the upper nozzle 2| moves to a predetermined position above the hat, or other object to be cleaned, undesired pressure of the upper nozzle against the object being cleaned being prevented by contact of the screw 35 against the extension 31. Further movement of the foot pedal 20a results in the lower portion of the lever 25 moving against the action of the springs 21 and Ila to open the valve [6a.

In one hat manufacturing plant employing this invention, several hat cleaning forms 8 are provided on a single Work-bench I8 and connected by pipe 30 to dust separator 3| and suction compressor 32, the latter being driven by the electric motor 33.

In cleaning hats according to this invention, it not only requires but a fraction of the time previously required for cleaning a hat, but the cleaning is much more thorough and, in addition, the following advantages are obtained: The color is more attractive and more uniform and even for finishing; no dye sediment is left in the body of the hat, and the hat is given a softer feel. The term hat as employed in the annexed claims is defined as a hat of flexible material previously shaped to have its crown and brim extend at different angles substantially as shown by Fig. l of the drawings hereof.

While this invention has been described as applicable to the cleaning of hats, it should be understood that any object having substantially the shape of a hat may also be cleaned, and the word hat in the specification and claims should be interpreted to include such other objects.

In the foregoing description, the hat or other object to be cleaned has been described as being rotated over the under nozzle and form. It should be understood, however, that the hat may be held stationary, if desired, and the form and nozzle may be rotated without departing from the inventive concept.

Whereas several embodiments of the invention have been described for the purpose of illustration, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described, since many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from. the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of cleaning a hat which comprises rotating the hat, sweeping during one complete revolution of the hat, the entire underside of both the crown and brim of the hat with a concentrated suction force in a narrow band applied simultaneously to said crown and brim, and preventing deformation of the hat during the cleaning thereof by supporting during said rotation a substantial portion of the crown and brim of said hat adjacent said band of suction.

2. The method of cleaning a hat which comprises rotating the hat, sweeping during one complete revolution of the hat, one complete surface of both the crown and brim of the hat with a concentrated suction force in a narrow band applied simultaneously to said crown and brim, and preventing deformation of the hat during the cleaning thereof by supporting during said rotation a substantial portion of the crownand brim of said hat adjacent said band of suction.

3. Hat'cleaning apparatus comprising a formadapted to have a hat rotated thereon for cleaning, having a continuous rounded crown portion of substantial area, having a continuous brim portion of substantial area extending at a substantial angle to said crown portion, and having a slotted portion providing a relatively long and relatively narrow slot having crown'and brim portions, the hat contacting borders" of which conform in outline with the hat contacting outline of said crown and brimportions, the said outlines of said crown and brim portions of said slot being in substantial alignment with said crown andbrim portions respectively of said form, said slotted portion and said crown and brim portions of said form being shaped to contact during one complete revolution of a hat rotated for cleaning thereon with the entire under surface of the hat, said crown and brim portions of said form serving to support substantial areas of the crown and brim of the hat adjacent said slotted portion to prevent deformation of the hat when a concentrated suction force is applied to said slot.

4'. Hat cleaning apparatus comprising in 'combination, a form having a rounded portion of substantial area'shaped to support a substantial portion of the crown of the hat placed on said form, and having a brim' portion 'of substantial area extending at a substantial angle to said crown portion and shaped to support a substantial portion of the brim of a hat placed on said form, said form having a substantially flat side,

a nozzle having a substantially flat side and hav-' ing a relatively long and relatively narrow suction slot shaped along its length to have an outline conforming with the outline of's'aid crown and brim portions of said form, and means for securing said fiat side of said nozzle to said flat side of said form with their respective, outlines in substantial alignment whereby when a hat is rotated on said formfor cleaning and aconcen-' trated suction force is applied to said nozzle, said form supports a substantial area of the crown and brim portionsof the hat adjacentsaid nozzle to prevent deformation of the hat by the concentrated suction at said nozzle.

GEORGE W. ALLEN. JOSEPH S. FARWELLV 

